This year has seen many more people working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and hastily attempting to throw together a suitable space to work in. Those of us who find working from home more enjoyable than being in the office may even be thinking about making it a permanent arrangement, in which case you might want to invest some time, money, and effort into setting up a top quality home office. After all, if you’re going to be spending eight hours a day in there, you want it to be as pleasant and productivity-boosting as it can be!  

Here are some ideas for items you’re definitely going to want to include in order to create a high quality work environment:

A standing desk

We all know now that sitting down for long periods of time throughout the day has negative impacts on our health. One solution is to set a reminder to get up and move around every hour, but an elegant alternative is to invest in a standing desk. It doesn’t even have to cost a lot – these days you can buy stands that sit on top of a regular desk to transform it into a standing one quickly and easily. You can then alternate between sitting and standing when you want to prevent you from getting tired.

An ergonomic chair

If you want to sit at your desk for at least some of the time, a good quality office chair is a must. You can get one with wheels for easy movement, a stylish and professional look, and a comfortable padded seat. Be sure to choose one with good back support and adjustable height and tilt and arm rests so that you can make sure it fits your body perfectly. This will help you to keep good posture whilst working. To avoid aches and pains, it’s a good idea to ensure all your computer equipment is set up ergonomically too.

Temperature control

Wherever you’re working, it’s important to feel comfortable. If you’re too hot or too cold, you’re going to find it harder to concentrate and get your tasks done. For rooms with no air conditioning, a desk fan can be a big help in the summer without taking up too much space. Likewise, investing in an electric wall furnace can help you keep warm during the cold winter months. Plus, with only you in the room, you can set the temperature as high or as low as you like!

Houseplants

Just because you’re working from home, it doesn’t mean that your home office needs to feel like a soulless corporate cubicle. It’s been shown that having some elements of nature around, for example, houseplants, helps to boost productivity and creativity as well as calm our minds. This makes them the ideal addition to your workspace. The great news is that many indoor plants are very easy to care for and can put up with minimal attention and the occasional forgotten watering. They will even help to purify the air!